Shore guard™ - shoreline erosion control system

Abstract

ShoreGuard™ is a flow and erosion control system that is a prefabricated breakwater structure with a series of Louvers that is placed off shore to have a slowing effect on the velocity of the current both incoming and outgoing. The slowing of the current allows sand and sediment to accumulate on the shoreline side of the structure, therefore, building a beach or adding to the existing shoreline. The structure can be very aggressive in this effort the closer to the shore that it is installed. However, it is recommended to be installed in 14 feet of water at low tide for safety.

1 - ShoreGuard™ is a shoreline erosion control system that uses the currents to open, close or spin Louvers that are attached to a framework stationary on the ocean floor that has a slowing effect on the current allowing heavier particles such as sand to be deposited in front of or the shoreline side of the structure. 
   
   
       2 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 1 , consisting of Louvers that are attached to the framework by Support Rods insulated by specialty bushings to protect the Support Rods from erosion or friction. 
   
   
       3 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 2 , consisting of bushings that are male and female to insulate the Support Rods from corrosion or loss of protective coating and are of a extremely smooth surface to deter fouling of marine life. 
   
   
       4 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 2 , the Louvers can be manufactured of various materials such as carbon steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass and plastics and the size can be adjusted for individual needs of a location and the design can be of a unidirectional Louver that can open 180 degrees or a rotational Louver that spins 360 degrees. 
   
   
       5 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 2 , the Support Rods which are welded to the Louvers can be of various sizes to adjust the size of the Louvers for individual needs of a location. 
   
   
       6 - A shoreline erosion control system that consists of a Base Plate, on which, the entire structure is welded into place and acts as the anchor and anti scouring plate on the ocean floor, having prefabricated openings for Anchor Spuds to be inserted through said openings and drilled into the ocean floor. 
   
   
       7 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 6 , the Anchor Spuds are square, rectangle or round and hollow or solid support chambers that are inserted into the prefabricated openings on the Base Plate and are drilled into the ocean floor at various depths depending on the strength of the currents and the consistency of the ocean floor. 
   
   
       8 - A shoreline erosion control system that is entirely coated with a non-corrosive, non toxic, and anti fouling coating that prevents aforementioned events from taking place in the severe salt water environment. The coatings used have to be OSHA approved as well as approval from Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife and Army Corps. Of Engineers. The coatings presently being used are Coal Tar Epoxy and Cerama-Kote. As technology advances, we will use the most durable coating available to meet our standards. 
   
   
       9 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 6 , that consists of an optional pivoting Base Plate that can be connected at either end of the prefabricated structures' Base Plate which allows the next connecting structure to have a directional change to follow the shoreline. 
   
   
       10 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 9 , that can have any number of continuos prefabricated structures installed and joined together to create a fence-like breakwater or it can be a single unit. This depends on the application needed at a particular site. 
   
   
       11 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 1 , that causes a slowing effect on the incoming current flow by the Louver system interacting with the flow of water and slowing the outward tide even more which allows particles that are heavier than water such as sand and sediment to deposit closer to the shore. 
   
   
       12 - A shoreline erosion control system that according to  claim 1 , consists of many various placement options as to how far the structure is placed off shore. The placement can determine how quickly the sand and sediment accumulates for the location or locations being affected by the structure. The further off shore it is located, the more time will need to elapse for accumulation of sand and sediment because of the distance to the shore and the larger area to be affected between the shore and the structure. The closer to shore that the structure is placed, the more aggressive the accumulation of sand and sediment will be. 
   
   
       13 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 12 , that is mobile and can be moved or adjusted to meet changing needs. 
   
   
       14 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 6 , that consists of Locking Pins, Bolts, Caps or any other locking device that can be used to affix the Base Plate to the Anchor Spuds to secure the structure to the ocean floor. 
   
   
       15 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 1 , that has a zig-zag or Z design that enables the structure to manage the northern and southern current flows in a more direct and efficient manner. 
   
   
       16 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 6 , the Base Plate contains male receptacles at one end and female receivers on opposite end to create a secure interlocking system to join two structures together or to add a pivoting Base Plate. 
   
   
       17 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 1 , that consist of a skeletal support frame underneath the structure for extra support for transporting and installation. 
   
   
       18 - A shoreline erosion control system according to  claim 2 , that consists of a locking mechanism on the top and complete length of the Louver System to structurally stabilize the Louvers and to keep them from binding and a support bar and locking mechanism to obstruct the bottom Louver from retracting in a negative position.